4A High School Football Playoffs: Stephenson's Field Goal Lifts Pine View Over Highland
For the Deseret News
ST. GEORGE — Michael Stephenson made the go-ahead field goal with 1:27 left and Stephen Anderson tipped away a desperation fourth-down pass as Pine View edged Highland 10-7 Friday night in Panther Stadium.
Highland won all the statistical categories in the game except three. The Panthers had fewer turnovers (2-0), fewer penalties (five for 52 yards vs. the Rams' 11 for 115 yards) and, ultimately, more points.
"They're a tough team that plays hard on every down," Pine View assistant coach Telly Esplin said. "But I've never seen a kid as tough as Justin Ence. He played every down and made so many plays."
Ence, Pine View's quarterback and free safety, struggled in the passing game, failing to complete a pass on seven attempts. But he rushed for 79 hard-fought yards and his 25th rushing score of the season. And on defense, he was a real difference-maker.
Still, Highland seemed to have the Panthers where it wanted them. Though Pine View led 7-0 at the half on Ence's two-yard scamper, the Rams owned the ball in the third quarter.
Highland forced a PV punt to open the quarter, then proceeded to go on a 10-minute, 20-play drive. It started at the Rams' own 10-yard line and, along the way, quarterback Nick Orchard and company converted on a third-and-12, a third-and-five (after a holding penalty on first down) and a fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line.
Muli Kinikini was the workhorse on the drive, carrying the ball nine times for 33 yards, including the final drive that made it 7-6 with 10:05 to play. Freshman Hayes Hicken converted the extra point to tie the game.
The Panthers were forced to punt moments later and Highland took over with 8:02 left in the game and the score all tied up at 7-7.
"We were very nervous," Esplin said. "We just told our defense that it was on them to get us the ball back and they did."
Highland moved the ball a bit, but got a delay of game on second-and-nine at the Pine View 40-yard line. Then, on third-and-14, Orchard was nearly sacked and called for intentional grounding. That left the Rams with fourth-and-19 and a fake punt run by Bridger Walzer came up three yards short.
Pine View then marched 57 yards in less than two minutes to set up Stephenson's game-winning 36-yard field goal.
"I was just thinking I needed to get it really high because they had a pretty good rush on," Stephenson said. "It was almost too high. It didn't make it by much."
Highland had 200 yards more total offense than the Panthers (341-141), but the Rams squandered multiple scoring opportunities in the first half with penalties and a pair of fumbles. Highland also kept the ball nearly nine minutes longer in the game than Pine View.
But the Rams, who finish the season 8-4, racked up a lot of penalties, including three late-hit penalties after Pine View players were out of bounds.
Pine View, 10-1, got its lone touchdown drive in the second quarter. Ence carried five times for 38 yards during the 51-yard drive.
GAME DATE: Friday, November 07, 2008
Pine View 10, Highland 7
Pine View's Justin Ence worked hard for 102 yards and one touchdown in this smashmouth football game. Pine View advanced to the 4A semifinals and will play unbeaten Cottonwood.
| TEAMS (REGION, OVERALL) | FINAL |
| Highland (5-2, 8-4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | - | 7 |
| Pine View (5-0, 10-1) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | - | 10 |
SCORING PLAYS
PINE VIEW - Ence 2 run (Stephenson kick)
HIGHLAND - Kinikini 1 run (Hicken kick)
PINE VIEW - Stephenson 36 FG
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